A/N Sorry this took so long. Full explanation at the bottom.
Disclaimer see previous chapters, I have nothing witty to say here.
Listening to the Beach Boys, the Monkees and Ray Charles this time
I dedicate this chapter to George's ear. Because I got to thinking that it must be extremely difficult to hear with just one. Although it could have its advantages if you didn't want to talk to someone…..anyway, enough of my blabbering, here's the story!
Lifting up the rug, Ginny pulled out a folded piece of paper with her name on it. She still had absolutely no clue why Harry had led her here, but she figured she was pretty lucky to have found the note without exactly knowing the next clue. Well, she would know soon enough. Ginny opened the note, smiling as she read the familiar handwriting.
Ginny,
I love the way you understand me. You always understand what I am going through, and you know exactly what to say and when to say it. It amazes me, but sometimes you know what I am going to say before I even say it. How do you do that? Anyway, I made this clue fairly easy to find because I knew you wouldn't get it. Do you remember that day, shortly after the Battle of Hogwarts? I had left the living room where your whole family was in there. Just sitting there, not talking. At one point, I just had to get away. Somehow, I ended up in the hallway. Then you came over and just sat there, leaning on my shoulder. It was just the thing I needed. I don't think I ever thanked you for that. So, thank you. Next, I am sending you downstairs. There's no point in trying to avoid everyone when you go downstairs, so I suggest not even trying. Hint: We always try to call this, but we seem to be constantly fighting with Ron and Hermione over it.
Harry
Ginny sat there and recalled the day Harry was talking about. She had gone to find him because he was the only person who had been able to comfort her those first few days. Ginny found it funny that, as it turned out, he needed her during that time just as much as she needed him. Without him, she would have been an emotional wreck.
She was really enjoying this treasure hunt. Not only did she like the challenge of finding the next clues and reading all the lovely things he was writing about her, but she was learning so much about Harry. Stuff, she was sure, he would never say to her face. Ginny giggled, his face would turn bright red and he would get tongue-tied if he tried to tell her to her face what he had been saying in his letters. Who knew The Chosen One could get tongue-tied talking about his feelings?
Sighing, she decided that she would have to tell Harry how she knew what he was thinking before he said anything. She would have to tell him that, because she knew him so well, she could tell what he was thinking by the look on his face. It was only fair to tell him seeing as how he was revealing So much about himself to her that she could at least share that secret with him. Well, she though, there goes my reputation for reading people's minds. Pity, I really enjoyed watching people try to close off their minds. It was really entertaining.
Ginny was still sitting on the stairs thinking about Harry and the notes when Andromeda walked up behind her, bag in hand. Ginny jumped when she first spoke to her.
"Ginny? Are you ok? You had a dreamy look on your face. Looked a bit like Luna actually."
Ginny laughed. She had never been compared to Luna before. A few years ago, she probably would have been offended, but now she didn't mind. She still considered Luna one of her closest friends, Even if she never did see her because of both of their busy traveling schedules.
"Actually I was thinking about Harry. He's sent me on a treasure hunt this morning. He has been writing me the sweetest notes. I have no idea how I am going to return the favor."
"Ted used to do the same things for me, even if it was only to tell me that he loved me," a sad smile was on her lips at the mention of her husband. "I'm heading to a friends house to relax for a few days and I am leaving Teddy here. I hope you Weasleys don't spoil him too much."
Ginny's eyes brightened, if it was possible, even more at the thought of spending a few days with the beloved Teddy. "Oh, don't worry, Andromeda. I'll make sure the guys behave themselves."
Andromeda looked at Ginny suspiciously, "It's not just the guys I'm worried about."
Ginny just laughed as Andromeda started walking down the stairs. Andromeda had just reached the bottom step when she looked up at Ginny and said, "Good luck on you hunt!" Ginny waved good-bye to the dear lady that had become just like family over the past couple years.
After she left, Ginny walked downstairs and went through the kitchen sneakily to avoid her mum's interrogations. When she walked into the living room, she was greeted with the cutest sight.
George and Charlie were sitting on the floor in front of Teddy, whose hair was a familiar shade of red. Teddy seemed to be extremely interested in the faces of both men. Occasionally he would poke George in the eye or stick a finger in Charlie's nose, earning a grunt from one and a laugh from the other.
They both looked expectantly at Ginny when they saw her come in. Obviously, they thought that Ginny should tell them what was going on. Ginny just smiled and shook her head, opting instead to pick up Teddy and give him a big kiss.
Mrs. Weasley walked up the stairs muttering to herself. If he is not going to come down and eat, I'll just take food up to him. Harry wasn't the only one who hadn't come down and eaten, but she knew that Percy, Bill, Fleur, and Victoire would come down when they were ready. Harry on the other hand, had a terrible habit of skipping meals. She knocked on his door, and went in when he heard the slightly hesitant "Come in."
"Good morning, Harry dear. I thought you could use a bit of breakfast." Mrs. Weasley conjured up some food and handed it to Harry.
Harry smiled his thanks. He looked at her and laughed, "You'll just have to find out like everybody else," he said, then added, "I could tell you were wanting to ask."
Mrs. Weasley smiled at being caught and slightly disappointed that he wasn't going to clue her in.
"Mrs. Weasley, could you do me a favor?" Harry asked after a moment's hesitation.
"Of course, dear. What is it?"
Harry pulled a note addressed to Ginny from his pocket. "I was wondering how I was going to get this to you. Could you give this to Ginny when she asks for it.?"
Mrs. Weasley, being a hopeless romantic, happily agreed to take the note and be a part of such a romantic gesture. On her way out of the room, Harry asked one last thing, "Could you not read it? It might ruin the whole thing. Mrs. Weasley nodded and headed back down the stairs.
After putting Teddy, who was squirming and trying to get down, so that he could explore her brother's faces again, Ginny scanned the room looking for something that she and Harry tried to call, but had to fight over with Ron and Hermione.
Well, she thought, that could be a few things. Like the spot right in front of the fireplace, the Daily Prophet, the chess board, or……
A/N I am sooooo sorry that this took so long to update. I will sheepishly say that I have not updated since Sunday and it is now Saturday night. I blame this on two things: lack of computer because I was at my grandma's and she doesn't have very good internet and lack of motivation, I had absolutely no motivation this past week. Again, I'm sorry.
So I mapped out the rest of the story, and it ended up being 13 chapters, so being as I am slightly superstitious and 13 being an unlucky number, I added a chapter, or two, depending on how I feel.
Please vote for where you want the last clue to lead Ginny, I am actually really surprised as to what you guys are saying…
Reviews are truly appreciated.
Shandra